The gaming revenue of $86.1 million for Ohio’s four casinos last month set a record for any January, according to a report released Tuesday by the Ohio Casino Control Commission.
Various factors could have been involved in the substantial 13.8% increase from January 2022 — which had the prior high of $75.6 million — but one was undoubtedly the additional customers that would have been brought in during the impressive first month of sports betting in the state.
All of the casinos have retail sportsbooks, and the commission reported separately Tuesday that the four of those combined for $1.7 million in revenue out of the massive total of $208.9 million from statewide mobile and retail sports betting. Aside from any revenue sportsbooks generate directly, they are touted by casino operators as a way to bring in customers who otherwise might not visit and who boost revenue by eating, drinking, and trying other forms of gambling.
January’s statewide slots revenue of $59.8 million was up 16% over January 2022 and table games revenue of $26.2 million represented a 9.1% increase. Those numbers suggest additional factors besides sports betting were at play in creating the record numbers for January, as sports gamblers are traditionally considered more likely to be interested in table games than slots.
January’s $86.1 million in casino revenue also represented a more modest 2.7% increase from what the four properties claimed in December.
The breakdown by property
JACK Cleveland had the most January revenue with $23 million, and it also had the biggest improvement year over year. The casino’s revenue improved 25.6% from the $18.3 million in January 2022, although it was the only casino to show a month-over-month decline from December, when it made $23.6 million.
Hollywood Casino Columbus made $22.7 million in January, up 13.5% from the prior year and 4% from the previous month. Hard Rock Cincinnati reported revenue of $21.7 million, a 7.5% increase from January 2022 and 7% boost from December. Hollywood Casino Toledo’s revenue of $18.7 million was up 9.1% year over year and 3.1% month over month.
The state claims 33% of casino revenue as its tax share, which would equate to $28.4 million for January.
Photo: Getty Images
